A Hidden Gem in France Returns With Three Youth Bowling Tournaments You Can’t Miss

When BowlingLife first visited BowlingGP, we quickly understood what makes the event feel so special.

Serious competition, a welcoming atmosphere and a carefully prepared show come together to give young bowlers a stage worthy of their effort.

From the opening shots to the fireworks behind the winners, every detail turns the tournament into an experience that stays with players long after the final ball is thrown.

The good news is that BowlingGP is returning for a new season with three tournaments created for youth bowlers. The 2026–2027 calendar includes two individual events and one team competition, giving young players three chances to experience the series for themselves. And you can already register to all of them!

Earlier this year, BowlingLife wrote about how BowlingGP is raising the standard for bowling events in Europe. That was not an empty compliment.

BowlingGP tournaments may still be one of European youth bowling’s missed gems, but once you attend, it is easy to understand what makes it different form any bowling event you been before.

Strong players compete on carefully prepared conditions inside modern bowling centers, but that is only the foundation.

While many youth tournaments treat the final and award ceremony as an afterthought, BowlingGP turns them into the moments everyone remembers. The lights, music, confetti and fireworks give young players the kind of stage their effort deserves.

Words can only explain so much. It the video below you can see what a BowlingGP final actually feels like.

The new season begins in Saint-Maximin on November 28–29, continues with a team event in Reims-Thillois on March 6–7 and finishes in Grand-Quevilly on April 10–11. Each tournament offers a €12,000 prize and rewards package.

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Serious Conditions Behind the Show

The presentation may catch the eye, but the bowling itself is treated just as seriously. All three events are part of the EBT Youth and FFBSQ Masters calendars.

That gives young players a chance to face demanding conditions and compete against talented bowlers from other countries. It is the kind of environment that helps players learn much more than their final position in the standings can show.

Saint-Maximin Opens the New Season

The first stop is BowlingGP NextGen Saint-Maximin, held this November 28–29 at the 28-lane Bowling Plaza Saint-Maximin Creil.

The individual tournament includes U14 boys and girls, U17 boys, U21 boys and a combined U17 and U21 girls’ category. U11 players can also compete within the U14 division. Most bowlers receive two six-game qualifying blocks before the leading players move into match play and the Final4.

A Final Team Test Before EYC 2027

The second event may be the most useful of all for national youth teams. BowlingGP NextGen Teams Reims-Thillois will take place March 6–7, less than two weeks before the 2027 European Youth Championships begin in Aalborg, Denmark, on March 20.

Each entry is built around a four-player team, which also separates into two doubles. The weekend therefore gives players experience in two team formats, where communication, lineup decisions and responding to a teammate’s shot become as important as individual execution.

For European youth teams preparing for Aalborg, it is a rare opportunity to test themselves in a real international competition. Players can feel the pressure of bowling for each other, identify what still needs work and return home with time to make final adjustments before the championship.

Grand-Quevilly Brings the Spotlight to Normandy

The third event, BowlingGP NextGen Grand-Quevilly, follows on April 10–11 at Bowling Plaza Rouen Grand-Quevilly. The 28-lane venue will host another individual tournament for U14, U17 and U21 bowlers.

Players will again progress from two qualifying blocks into match play and a Final4 knockout. For those who compete at EYC 2027, it will also be an early chance to take what they learned in Aalborg back into international competition.

BowlingGP NextGen gives young bowlers something that remains too rare in the sport: high-level competition presented in a way that makes their effort and success feel important. The lanes test them, the opponents push them and the final gives them a moment they will want to experience again.

Registrations for all three events are now open. Players, parents and coaches can also follow the BowlingGP Youth WhatsApp channel for tournament news and registration updates.